Journal of neurosurgery
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Journal of neurosurgery · Feb 2015
Comparative StudyDetection of p53 mutations in proliferating vascular cells in glioblastoma multiforme.
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), one of the most aggressive tumors in humans, is highly angiogenic. However, treatment with the angiogenesis inhibitor bevacizumab has not significantly prolonged overall patient survival times. GBM resistance to angiogenesis inhibitors is attributed to multiple interacting mechanisms. Although mesenchymal transition via glioma stem-like cells has attracted attention, it is considered a poor biomarker. There is no simple method for differentiating tumor-derived and reactive vascular cells from normal cells. The authors attempted to detect the mesenchymal transition of tumor cells by means of p53 and isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) immunohistochemistry. ⋯ Some microvascular proliferation clusters in GBM result from mesenchymal transition. The identification of useful markers might reveal this phenomenon as an infrequent event in GBMs.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Feb 2015
Comparative StudyAttrition rates in neurosurgery residency: analysis of 1361 consecutive residents matched from 1990 to 1999.
The objective of this study is to determine neurosurgery residency attrition rates by sex of matched applicant and by type and rank of medical school attended. ⋯ Overall, neurosurgery training attrition rates are low. Women have had greater attrition than men during and after neurosurgery residency training. International and private medical school alumni had higher attrition than public medical school alumni.
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Journal of neurosurgery · Feb 2015
RNA interference targeting hypoxia-inducible factor 1α via a novel multifunctional surfactant attenuates glioma growth in an intracranial mouse model.
High-grade gliomas are the most common form of adult brain cancer, and patients have a dismal survival rate despite aggressive therapeutic measures. Intratumoral hypoxia is thought to be a main contributor to tumorigenesis and angiogenesis of these tumors. Because hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) is the major mediator of hypoxia-regulated cellular control, inhibition of this transcription factor may reduce glioblastoma growth. ⋯ Treating glioblastoma with siRNA targeting HIF-1α in vivo can significantly reduce tumor growth and increase survival in an intracranial mouse model, a finding that has direct clinical implications.